Finally, after months of speculation, Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad have unveiled their new outfit. Well, in truth, it is an old one.

The former PKR leaders have taken over Parti Bersama Malaysia, a party registered in 2016, and are now positioning it as a “third force”—a check-and-balance agent and a platform for fresh ideas.

Yet, Rafizi himself has described the move as a “kamikaze mission,” suggesting that winning is not the priority.

For Rafizi and company, the focus is on presenting a fresh platform for ideas and visions “without compromise.”

But that sort of positioning raises a troubling question: is Bersama going to war with a plan to fail?

While no one expects the new party to stage a major upset at the coming polls, I am curious to see what Bersama intends to offer voters.

Rafizi has said his party will adopt a multiracial, open-platform approach if it comes to power. That promise prompts three sets of questions.

Religion

• How does Bersama plan to address the rising extremism in the country, driven by popular independent preachers who claim Islam is incompatible with the Malaysia envisioned by our founding fathers?
• Does the party intend to rein in religious studies and madrasahs that perpetuate this narrative?

Education

First and foremost, Bersama should tell us its overall plan for the country’s education system?

Next, there is the UEC — the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) — an acronym that never fails to whip nationalists into a frenzy.

• Will the party emulate the two ruling coalitions in East Malaysia and recognise the UEC? It would be best for Bersama to take this bull by the horns rather than focus on promises of better wages for teachers or free daycare for parents.
• Will Bersama dare to propose opening Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) to non-Malays? This is, without question, a political minefield — and short of divine intervention, it is hard to imagine the Malay electorate entertaining such an idea.

Still, I am keen to know Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s thoughts on the matter.

If Bersama does push for UiTM to be opened to non-Malays, I will back them for sure. You heard it here first.

Representation

The third area concerns racial representation. What is Bersama’s vision for racial balance among teachers in public schools and personnel in the security forces?

Without diversity in education, Malaysia risks raising children who never truly see the country’s multiracial reality. Likewise, without diversity in our security forces, the nation will struggle to defend itself and protect its people.

The real test

Bersama should confront these hard questions instead of indulging in the easy blame game of pointing fingers at Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government. That is a tired script the opposition has played too often.

What Malaysians need is courage. Bersama must be bold enough to tackle extremism, education reform and representation head-on. These are the battles that matter.

Which brings me back to Rafizi’s “kamikaze mission.”

It sounds noble, yes, but it also risks sounding like surrender dressed up as principle. It is one thing to fight a war and lose; it is another to march into battle already planning to fail.

Still, I welcome Bersama’s entry into the fray. A new voice, even a risky one, adds colour to our democracy. The real test is whether Bersama can surprise us with genuine upsets — or whether it will simply leave voters upset.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.